Turkey is still working to negotiate a settlement to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, which started in February 2022.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has emphasized that Turkey is still prepared to assist peace initiatives and reaffirmed Ankara’s support for Ukraine’s “territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence” in opposition to the ongoing violence.
“We are dealing with the geopolitical issues brought on by the conflict. At a joint news conference with his visiting Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha in the capital Ankara on Monday, Fidan stated, “Despite this, our multifaceted cooperation with Ukraine is growing stronger every day.”
Fidan expressed hope that the Black Sea will once again be a “basin of cooperation” and emphasized the significance of restarting the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a safe seaborne route for grain shipments from July 2022 to July 2023, organized by Türkiye.
For his part, Sybiha emphasized that the only way to end the current conflict is through Ukraine’s Peace Formula and that Turkey’s backing of the 10-step peace formula—which was outlined at the 2022 G20 conference in Indonesia—is crucial.
In accordance with UN guidelines, he called on all countries pursuing peace to support the formula, adding: “We know Türkiye is contributing to this effort.”
The Ukrainian minister also called attention to Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure and spoke about restoring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea.
The significance of the “Grain from Ukraine” project was emphasized, and he commended Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for playing a pivotal role in initiating this “vital program.” Later, Sybiha was welcomed by Erdogan in the Presidential Complex.
In March 2022, the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers met for the first time in Turkey in the Mediterranean city of Antalya. The historic Black Sea grain agreement was reached in 2022 as a result of those efforts, but Moscow did not renew it beyond July 2023, blaming limitations on Russian grain shipments.
Increasing collaboration and forming strategic partnerships
Fidan complimented Sybiha, who was appointed foreign minister on September 5, on his new position during his Monday speech. As Ukraine’s ambassador to Ankara from 2016 to 2021, he said he is confident he would make a substantial contribution to bilateral relations.
During a difficult time for Ukraine, the country’s top ambassador visited Ankara. One of the first nations he traveled to in his new role was Turkey.
The relationship between Ankara and Kiev has been intensifying. The Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and Turkey has been approved. Along with Ukraine’s rehabilitation, the two nations are also looking to expand their defense sector collaboration.
“Turkish contractors have made around 300 project-worth contributions to Ukraine, totaling almost $10 billion. Our companies have completed 70 projects since the war started in 2022, demonstrating their loyalty by staying in Ukraine, Fidan remarked.
Sybiha praised the two nations’ expanding defense cooperation and claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had given him the duty of enhancing bilateral ties with Turkey.
“STM is constructing two corvettes for the Ukrainian Navy, while Turkish businesses such as Baykar are setting up factories in Ukraine. He emphasized that these actions benefit both Ukraine and Turkey. During his tour, the Ukrainian foreign minister also had a meeting with Yasar Guler, the Turkish national defense minister.
The foreign ministers signed agreements on diplomatic exchanges to commemorate Sybiha’s visit.
Our key partner, Ukraine, is someone we will keep working to strengthen ties with across the board. “I think this visit will take our two nations’ friendship and cooperation to a new level,” Fidan stated.
The strategic alliance between Ukraine and Turkey was also emphasized by Sybiha, who stated: “We aim to develop strong, secure, and mutually beneficial relations with Türkiye.”
Also invited to Ukraine by the senior diplomat were President Erdogan of Turkey and his deputy Fidan.
